Guyana registers protest over Venezuela’s construction of bridge on Ankoko

Guyana has officially registered its discomfort following Venezuela’s completion of a bridge on Ankoko Island. Venezuela seized Guyana’s side of the island in 1966.

Over the weekend, Foreign Minister Hugh Todd summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana Carlos Amador Perez Silva, to formally protest the move.

A release from the Foreign Ministry said Guyana is protesting the completion of the bridge built by the Venezuelan Armed Forces to link the Venezuelan mainland to Ankoko Island, and specifically to the military base which is situated on the part of Ankoko Island that belongs to Guyana.

“Under the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, and the Boundary Agreement of 1905, the international boundary passes through Ankoko Island, dividing the island between Guyana and Venezuela with Guyana’s sovereignty extending over the territory east of the boundary line. Venezuela’s activities, including its military activities east of the boundary line thus violate Guyana’s sovereignty, and international law requires that they be halted and that all personnel, facilities or equipment built or brought there by Venezuela be removed,” the Foreign Minister noted.

The release stated that Minister Todd reminded of the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice on December 1, 2023, which ruled that, among other things, pending a final decision in the case, Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.

Minister Todd also reiterated Guyana’s commitment to the Joint Declaration of Argyle of December 14, 2023, during which both Countries agreed not to threaten or use force against each other in any circumstances and committed to the pursuance of good neighbourliness, peaceful coexistence, and the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ambassador Perez Silva has since registered Minister Todd’s submission and posited that Caracas is in receipt of Guyana’s protest note and an explanation from his government would be forthcoming.

When President Ali spoke at a GDF Luncheon last week, he also condemned the move and said Guyana will not be threatened by Venezuela and also has no intention to heighten tensions with its neighbor.